Velocity Platinum Reward Seat Guarantee

[henrus]

When I search for the flight with VA it shows as an available destination, both legs have VA flight numbers,

If it can be booked as a paid ticket on the website then it can be booked under the reward seat guarantee. If there are multiple options/times/airlines then VA will book you on the cheapest (you don't get to pick).

It's quite clear (in the T&C's) that your flights can be "...to any domestic or international destination when travelling on any Virgin Australia marketed flight beginning with a 'VA' flight number". It doesn't mention anything specific about non-stop/stopovers etc.

 

[maccaisking]

Thanks for the advice, I have a couple of hours between kids in bed and soccer kick off so will try then. My plan B is flying MEL - CAN (Guangzhou, China). VA offer that route as a codeshare on SQ metal. The route never has reward flights available so it ticks that box, and CAN is my actual destination, but the flight times with SQ are less favourable. I assume there should be no issue with a multi leg booking, it stops in Singapore. When I search for the flight with VA it shows as an available destination, both legs have VA flight numbers,

Didn't get to call last night, but when I jumped online this morning to check fares, there was a Virgin flight (normal number - VA69) with reward availability scheduled at 11am from MEL - HKG on Wednesday 2 January. This flight wasn't there yesterday, and MEL didn't used to have Wednesday flights. Looks like it has been just added as a daytime flight on Weds only. (edit - have now looked further and VA69 looks to be daily at 11am from Sunday 28 October)

When I rang to book, I explained I wanted a guaranteed reward seat booking but that one leg was already available as normal reward seats. The operator was very helpful, booked the outbound leg as a 'normal' reward flight and took my details to book the return leg as the 'guaranteed' reward flight to save me waiting on hold. (effectively means I am using it one way from HKG). I was worried that I would be knocked back as one way is available as a normal reward, but they had no issues booking it. All in all a very good experience for me.

 

[deejo77]

Sorry to bump an old thread

Has anyone used this for an open jaw?

Need A to B then happy to make our own eay to C then will need flight from C back to A?

 

[henrus]

Has anyone used this for an open jaw?

I don't think it's possible (but you'd be best to call up and ask). They tend to closely follow the terms and conditions listed: Velocity Membership Terms & Conditions

I've heard of someone using it for a oneway flight before but it's quite clear in the T&C's that it's to be used for a return trip you might struggle.

Let us know how you go.

 

[deejo77]

I don't think it's possible (but you'd be best to call up and ask). They tend to closely follow the terms and conditions listed: Velocity Membership Terms & Conditions

I've heard of someone using it for a oneway flight before but it's quite clear in the T&C's that it's to be used for a return trip you might struggle.

Let us know how you go.

I am going to give them a call tomorrow - hopefully they will accept it as brisbane to lax is their metal but we want to go to Orlando, happy to make own way back to lax and only their metal is involved on way back

 

[hossein_au]

I am going to give them a call tomorrow - hopefully they will accept it as brisbane to lax is their metal but we want to go to Orlando, happy to make own way back to lax and only their metal is involved on way back

So basically you want to ask for BNE-LAX return. I think the fact that there is a LAX-MCO trip nested inside should not matter.

 

[dandandan]

Hi all, just trying to work out how many points would be needed per ticket for a Platinum guaranteed family redemption. Say I was wanting to book Sydney - coughet, I would most likely end up on an SQ and Silk Air combo. Based on the below terms from the points tables, I think it would cost 35,000 per ticket each way, with Sydney to coughet being circa 4,500 miles, and being on SQ with connection of less than 24hours with Silk Air being owned by SQ and in the same points table. Or, do they calculate the required points simply on the miles from the Virgin points tables. I can't find this detail anywhere. Sydney to Samui is 35,000 points on an SQ/Silk Air combo, so I'm pretty sure it will be the 35,000 points each way Sydney to coughet. Of course they could put me on VA to HKG then to coughet that way which is 41,800 points and almost better off going to LAX 44,800 miles. Probably better off going on a direct VA flight somewhere to save miles, such as Bali however single isle 737, use cash, or J one way and cash flights home etc.


Terms and Conditions;
2. The Points price for a Reward Seat will be based on the total miles for all sectors in a one way journey, except where there is a break in the journey. Where there is a break in the journey, the Points price is calculated on a per sector basis. A break in the journey includes: (a) a stopover, which means: (i) in an Australian domestic itinerary, a break of journey at an intermediate point when onward travel does not take place on the same calendar day; and (ii) for all other itineraries, including those containing a domestic to international connecting flight, when a passenger arrives at an intermediate point and is not scheduled to depart within 24 hours of arrival; (b) a change in class of travel within the journey; or (c) a change in operating airline where the airlines are located in different Reward Seat Points tables.

 

[Must...Fly!]

The guarantee applies to Virgin Australia operated flights only

Edit: I think I'm confusing the gold benefit with the platinum one. As long as it's VA marketed you can request if you're WP

 

[dandandan]

The guarantee applies to Virgin Australia operated flights only

Edit: I think I'm confusing the gold benefit with the platinum one. As long as it's VA marketed you can request if you're WP

Yes, your edit is correct. So market meaning if you can book through Virgin website it can basically be booked under this benefit;

• Once a year, be guaranteed to be able to redeem four return Economy Reward Seats to any domestic or international destination when travelling on any Virgin Australia marketed flight beginning with a 'VA' flight number.

 

[cqtiger]

with long combination flights where multiple routes are available like SYD LHR are the points deducted based on distance alone or also the airlines and actual route?

 

[dandandan]

with long combination flights where multiple routes are available like SYD LHR are the points deducted based on distance alone or also the airlines and actual route?

As Virgin doesn't fly there themselves it would depend on who the airlines are however if change in operating airlines or stopover of more than 24 hours when on same operating airline it's calculated per sector basis.


Terms and Conditions;
2. The Points price for a Reward Seat will be based on the total miles for all sectors in a one way journey, except where there is a break in the journey. Where there is a break in the journey, the Points price is calculated on a per sector basis. A break in the journey includes: (a) a stopover, which means: (i) in an Australian domestic itinerary, a break of journey at an intermediate point when onward travel does not take place on the same calendar day; and (ii) for all other itineraries, including those containing a domestic to international connecting flight, when a passenger arrives at an intermediate point and is not scheduled to depart within 24 hours of arrival; (b) a change in class of travel within the journey; or (c) a change in operating airline where the airlines are located in different Reward Seat Points tables.

 

[jpp42]

I didn't realise exactly what this benefit was until reading this thread - very interesting. As I travel very little on VA metal, I have always struggled to use my VA points efficiently since I can't upgrade SQ, DL, or EY flights with these points. This really makes the points redemptions on partner flights a much better prospect. (side note: Probably I should really be using KrisFlyer instead, given most of my non-QF flying is SQ, and flying other StarAlliance carriers like United or AirNZ for other locations, but that's another discussion.)

 

[danban]

Hello

I was trying to organise a one way flight Europe --> MEL using this benefit of Platinum Velocity Membership.
I am being told that because Virgin is not currently flying to Europe,I cannot use it for flights to from Europe.

In fact Virgin is not even flying to Singapore now, so that is also not possible.
So pretty much the only Asian hub is Denpasar?

Does this sound right to people who know much more about this topic than I?
It really dilutes the value of the membership.

the details are as follows pasted from here with full T&C here

Economy Reward seat guarantee for an Annual Family Trip

• As a Platinum member, we guarantee you will be able to redeem up to four return Economy Reward Seats once per Benefit Period to any domestic or international destination when travelling on any Virgin Australia marketed flight beginning with a 'VA' flight number*.
• Reward Seat carrier charges can be paid for using Points or a combination of Points and cash.
• The Guaranteed Economy Reward Seat must be booked at least six months prior to your journey and allow one day for domestic flights and three days for international flights either side of the desired departure and return dates. Our Reward Seat Guarantee is available for one itinerary per year.
• To make a redemption booking, please contact our Membership Contact Centre.

Guaranteed Economy Reward Seats for an Annual Family Trip Terms and Conditions.

Thanks for your help.

Daniel

 

[HS-TQE]

Virgin doesn't fly to Europe or Singapore on their own metal. They were most likely referring to codeshare on Virgin's partners (SQ and incoming partner QR (was EY prior to administration)).

 

[henrus]

I was trying to organise a one way flight Europe --> MEL using this benefit of Platinum Velocity Membership.

Short answer - This is no longer possible. In February 2022 the Platinum reward seat guarantee was changed so flights must be VA operated.

From 5 February 2022, flights to Cocos Island, Christmas Island and Partner Airline operated flights booked with a VA flight number will no longer be eligible flights under our Economy Reward Seat Guarantee

Source for above : Platinum Membership


Long answer. Previously Virgin Platinum members could request a return flight to anywhere that was sold as a cash fare marketed by Virgin Australia but operated by either Virgin Australia or a partner airline. You would call them up to request this and it took a while to book but essentially they'd book a cash fare for you, you'd pay the taxes and then they'd pay the fare component only deducting the equivalent number of points for an economy reward.

The big thing to note is that whilst one-way flights were available all travel needed to start in Australia. Meaning even if the old benefit did exist you still wouldn't be able to book Europe to Melbourne.

In February this year they enhanced this benefit meaning the flight needs to be operated by Virgin Australia. Now both Gold and Platinum have this guarantee but gold's were (and still are) limited to domestic only trips. Platinum card holders used to have the whole VA network and partners (SQ, EY, DL, VS) but this is reduced to VA operated international flights. Currently the international network is limited to just Fiji and Denpasar with Queenstown in November 2022 and Vanuatu and Samoa from March 2023.

Back on topic you're asking about a flight from Europe to Melbourne, do you care to share where in Europe and some rough dates. The helpful people around here might have some ideas as you're still able to access normal award seats on SQ, EY, VS, UA and AC all of which provide some options to get either to Australia or to another airport for another award seat.

 

[danban]

Thankyou for your prompt help.
My planned flight is MEL--CPH mid December
Then FRA--MEL around 15/1/23

I would be happy to spend velocity points economically on rewards seats for either or both legs, but we are a family of 5, and really need to travel together.
Getting 5 reward seats is tough, hence the attractiveness of the original benefit.
However I'm also happy to get a mixture of reward and paid seats as long as we are on the same flight.
Thanks for any good suggestions.

Daniel

 

[henrus]

Thankyou for your prompt help.
My planned flight is MEL--CPH mid December
Then FRA--MEL around 15/1/23

I would be happy to spend velocity points economically on rewards seats for either or both legs, but we are a family of 5, and really need to travel together.

How many VA points do you have?

 

[danban]

How many VA points do you have?

About 1000000

 

[henrus]

About 1000000

There is very limited no chance you'll find any award seats around those dates from/to Australia. My recommendation is to look for award seats from Asia instead and focus on buying a reasonable cash fare from Australia to Asia.

Some flights have 3-4 award seats from Singapore to Europe around mid december and I'd look at either Qantas/Scoot/Jetstar or Scoot flights from Melbourne to Singapore.

On the return most Singapore Airlines flights have 5+ seats from FRA to SIN meaning you could all be on one ticket through to SIN. From SIN you can then look at flights onward to MEL (perhaps on the same return ticket as the outbound from MEL to SIN).

If you're really pushing it, you could pull the Platinum guarantee from MEL to DPS for 4 people round trip. This would get you to Denpasar where you could purchase a cheap Jetstar or Scoot flight from Denpasar to Singapore before another award ticket from Singapore to Europe.

I've just recently booked a flight from LHR-SIN (on Qantas), SIN-DPS (on Jetstar same ticket) then separate ticket DPS-BNE (Virgin) because it was cheaper than any airline could quote for a LHR-BNE ticket, the bonus is I get stops in SIN and DPS on the way through.

 

[WLGFlyer]

Hi there,

Couldn’t find any recent discussions - I just used my guaranteed reward seat for a domestic VA flight. Taxes for a reward seat on this route are around $30.

To my surprise the call centre agent quoted me $90. I checked the e-ticket receipt and by the looks of it the ticket was issued as a revenue ticket and the $90 includes the GST component of the ticket value (~$650).

Still a good deal so no complaints but it seems odd? Has anyone experienced this?

Thanks!